Good customer service shouldn't include identity theft

IdentityTheft — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 22:51:00 GMT

"Thank you for calling. May I have your account number, please?"

Sometimes you have no choice but to give out personal or financial information over the phone. Have a question about your credit card account? Want to increase the minutes on your cell phone contract? You have to tell all to the customer service rep in the call center. But, hey, you can trust them, right? Maybe. Maybe not.

ID Analytics recently reported results from their study of 12 internal data theft incidents, eight of which led to more 1,300 fraud attempts involving bankcards, retail cards and wireless service.

Among the ID Analytics findings:
• If your information is part of an internal data theft, the chance of your info being used fraudulently goes up 2,400%.

• If your info is used fraudulently, it’s probably going to be used within 20 miles of the place it was stolen.

• Just like identities stolen from outside an organization, most identities stolen from the inside are used quickly then discarded within a two-week period. In five of the eight incidents, online purchases and services were responsible for 80% of the fraudulent activity.

When you call a customer service center, there’s nothing you can do to protect your information. Like it or not, once your data is out there, it’s completely out of your control.

It's all about your wallet

IdentityTheft — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:29:00 GMT

Pickpockets, strap-slashers and food court loiterers know that once they get their hands on your wallet they have everything they need to assume your identity.

Here’s what you do to thwart the sleazebags:

• Stay alert, especially during the holiday season when there are so many crowds and distractions.
• Never leave your purse or wallet in the car where it’s visible to passersby.
• Plan ahead. Put your cash, check or credit card along with your driver’s license into a fanny pack or a small bag you can wear across your chest. Leave your purse at home, or lock it in the trunk before leaving home. DON’T put it in the trunk in a parking lot where everyone can see.
• Use a money clip for cash, credit card and ID instead of a wallet so you can more easily carry it in your front pocket. If you don’t think a pickpocket to reach into your pants pocket without your knowing, you’re wrong; it happens everyday, and crowds make it easier.
• Clean out your wallet, and carry only the essentials: Your driver’s license, one credit card OR one check OR cash. NEVER carry your Social Security card with you. Leave your auto insurance card in the glove compartment. Everything else belongs at home in a lockbox.
• Make sure you know what’s in your wallet in case it’s stolen. The sooner you can contact the credit card issuers the better; time is on the side of the identity thief.

I already warned you that I’d be plugging some LifeLock products, and WalletLock is my personal favorite—because I’ve left my wallet in a phone booth, a fitting room and the Rome Airport.

With WalletLock you make only one call to LifeLock if your wallet is swiped or lost and they’ll take care of canceling and replacing just about anything except your photos.

Covered documents include your driver’s license, health and auto insurance cards, Social Security card (what was that doing in there, anyhow?), professional association cards, credit cards, bank cards, check book or checks—even your passport, visa or immigration documents. They’re open 24/7 so they’ll always be able to help you, even if you’re out of the country and several time zones away.

Search results matching tags 'identity theft', 'LifeLock ID theft protection', 'Life Lock', 'preventing identity theft', 'identity theft protection', and 'LifeLock'

Good customer service shouldn't include identity theft

It's all about your wallet